Why is wearing rainwear often considered a perversion?

[Hugo]

When looking at the "official" opinions in the media, BDSM is cool, latex is sexy, homosexuality is okay, cross-dressing is different, but loving rainwear is filthy - if mentioned at all. Now why is this so? Or isn't it?

[Fender]

Its definitly no perversion!!if more important people wear macs,capes or suits,the media tell us that wearing rainwear is the best thing in the world

[neil]

I have absolutely no idea why cirtain things are acceptable and others are not.
I'm sure if one or two"celebrities"began regularly wearing raincoats they would suddenly be cool.
If I look at my own particular favourite garment,the snorkel parka,they have gone from being a military issued specialist item of clothing in the post WW2 period,to a practical protective item of clothing warn by a huge percentage of the UK population in the 70's,to something of ridicule in the 80's,to cool in the 90's(after the mod revival,Brit pop,Liam Gallagher,etc)and back to their position as a fairly mainstream item of clothing today.
I don't think this "perversion"issue exists in many countries outside the UK either.

[froggy]

The filthy image that comes to my mind is that of the "mild mannered" genital flasher and the role of the raincoat. The garment that allowed this "filthy" male to do his dasterly deed was the raincoat. He finds his victim and opens the raincoat to expose himself! The lady, innocent kid or whomever the victim is screams. Unfortunately this only condemns males. On females, the raincoat was a sexy garment.

[Jjai]

It is strange how this image of the 'Flasher' in a mack has lasted all these years. It seemed to be started in the sixties, but even though there have been two or three new generations in between the label still exists!

I think it will only be laid to rest if it becomes more popular.It is nice to see firms like Burberry making more these days but the prices are still far too expensive for it to become a widely fashionable item.

[merv]

while I don't doubt the OPs sencerity in making this thread I have to wonder where he/she gets the idea of rainwear being portrayed in this way. I can't say I have really noticed it. Think rubber and pvc fetish gear is seen as sleazy but then it is meant to be isn't it. The humble raincoat seems to barely get a mention as far as I can see.

[PolyVinylC]

I think part of the reason I am delaying buying a pvc raincoat is this belief that rainwear of this kind is perverted. We all know it isn't,but in the wider world I'm not sure.I have noted the comments about "flashers"and think there is still the stigma even now .As someone who admits to being middle aged and male it does make me think,although I have no "perverted" thoughts myself.Also,I don't see many men wearing pvc outdoors,only girls/women.
I also wonder why pvc is considered a fetish. I think of it more of an interest,like my interest in sport,music etc.After all,I do not have a sport fetish, it is an interest!

[merv]

one more thought from me here on this one.

Is the fear of wearing rainwear in public more paranoia on the part of people who think that someone will think badly of them rather than the reality where nobody actually cares what you are wearing.

Obviously if a guy went out in a bright pink plastic mac it would be sure to turn heads, and not in a good way, but if the rainwear is sensible then it really is no big deal to anybody

[slicker-lover]

maybe Hollywood is the problem.

during the time when well over half of college age women wore slickers (mid 70s to mid 80s) there is only 1 episode of Nancy Drew where the star wears a slicker.

and even today the original Danish version of the Killing, which was also broadcast in the UK has the main character wearing a slicker throughout.

but the USA AMC remake has her wearing just a winter jacket.

[sissy_sofi]

Part of this is the tradition or climate factor. In rainy climates rainwear is a fact of life. I grew up in a rainy area so everyone had a raincoat.